7Mary3

So. what's the big plan?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ford-stops-production-electric-f-033945596.html

An engine that traces its origins back to a 60 year old design a great start? Personally I don't believe Ford is considering an in-line 6, but if they are basing it on an existing 4 cylinder would make the most sense. I have heard much of Ford's ICE development group has been disbanded, and as others have stated anything 'new' from this point on will be based on existing designs.

I always wondered what the story was behind the E-550. It was available for something like 6 months, supposedly built to satisfy a particular fleet customer. I remember seeing one E-550, one of the studios had it. GM build a very similar truck, the P-30 Cut-away, from '91 to '96. Saw a few of those, made a nice motorhome chassis.

In order to be competitive with the NPR/NQR/NRR, Ford would need a new diesel engine around 5L (6.7L is too inefficient), a complete cab option (E series is only a cut-away), a crew cab option, chassis/axles to support up to a 19,500# GVW, and a wheelbase long enough for a 20' body. That's asking a bit much out of the old E series! On the smaller end of NPR applications the E-450 is competitive to a point, but basically this is an apples to oranges comparison. Over the years I have been something of an informal Isuzu salesman. I have recommended Isuzu's to people asking my advice on medium duty class 4 and 5 trucks and without exception those that bought Isuzu's were completely satisfied. You just can't beat them for reliablilty and low overall cost of ownership. I am told they have great resale, but no one I know has ever wanted to sell one.......

Ford comes up very short in that match.

I think Ford is kind of stuck doing something with the old Econoline, as the Transit just isn't 'heavy duty' enough for some applications.

Heard a rumor that the E series will get a refresh. No word on exactly what will be updated though. Maybe a response to GM's upcoming new Express/Savanna?

No surprise about the tractor package. Maybe the gas/air brake option is Job 2.

It was a very good move, and a great time for Ford to get out. Rivian and their ilk may be clobbered in the coming BEV price war.

Not yet anyway! But, I do expect significant cuts to the ICE side of the business. While certain Ford Blue product lines are without a doubt the major source of revenue, there are others that are likely costing money. While streamlining the ICE side of the business has been a part of the plan for some time, I think those moves will be accelerated.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2022/06/24/ford-recalls-warranty-costs/7708704001/ Yes, looks like they are down last quarter.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-06/ford-has-25-more-engineers-doing-same-work-as-rivals-ceo-says And yet Ford's warranty costs continue to climb ever higher. Bill Ford's patience must be wearing thin.....

Meanwhile, across town: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/31/investing/gm-earnings/index.html Wouldn't imagine Farley is at all satisfied. I would like to see what Ford's warranty costs were last year for starters......

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-15/ford-says-mustang-mach-e-profit-wiped-out-by-commodity-costs?leadSource=uverify wall But I agree, the price cuts shouldn't hurt Ford much overall longer term, particularly if truck and SUV sales offset losses on other specific products. There is however the problem of what to do for all the customers that recently paid more for the same product that is now discounted. Not to mention resale. At least Tesla will face the same issues.

I don't know that GM is making a mistake not cutting prices. Tesla is cutting prices at least in part to head off competition as more and more new BEV's hit the market, a particularly concerning situation for Tesla considering their aging product line. Also many of these upcoming BEV's are trucks and SUV's, areas where Tesla is particularly weak (I don't expect the Cyber Truck to be much of a success). I didn't hear that Ford had any plans to cut the price on the Lightning (and I hope they don't) but they seem compelled to cut the price on the Mach E as it's priced close to the Tesla 3. The Chevy Bolt is quite a bit less expensive than either of those cars and I expect the 2024 Equinox EV (a dark horse) will be very competitively priced so I think GM will have the lower end of the BEV market well covered. In any event, I think if Tesla starts a price war it will not hurt GM or Ford in the long term, but it may well wipe out all the startups.

I wonder the same thing about Bronco's and Mavericks.......

I missed this, seems that LG is working on 4680 cells as well: https://insideevs.com/news/591700/lges-4680type-battery-cells-korea/

Hummer, Silverado EV, Sierra EV, Corvette E-Ray, Cadillac Lyriq and Celestiq, Chevy Bolt, Bolt EUV, Equinox and Blazer EV's, and BrightDrop. Maybe not a flood yet but the tide is rising for sure.

Wouldn't say Ultium is falling apart, more like they are searching for the best technology going forward. Very interested to see where they go with Ultium Home Energy and SunPower.

More BEV battery news: https://www.electrive.com/2023/01/26/gm-to-switch-from-pouch-to-round-battery-cells/ This may explain why GM is not doing a 4th. plant with LG. The Mach-E (and I assume the Lightning) currently use pouch cell batteries. CATL makes prismatic cell batteries, is that the direction Ford is going?

No doubt a factor. However, BYD would be coming in at a better position than Ford, i.e. Ford was going to close this plant, were are saving it but give us too much trouble and we are gone. I now see that BYD may be eyeing that plant to built large commercial BEV's, if so it would not be competing with Ford. Maybe Otosan though.

That's what I am thinking....

https://www.autoblog.com/2023/01/24/ford-could-sell-saarlouis-germany-plant-to-china-byd/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGYYSKqLrb9Pk5GPorKdT5NdbkcaaP2Ng7EI6aw26E2wXhPrge0tadXfSpPBeVWm9mq94avHt1SIFeFhQ4vimvlOxFGaRcKfqmfBeeUkTbPKz4uOMbGFTiWF47U5HXGBe_1kp1c8dhtUGgPksSzeIzSV3jS8Gv2ERsULgfkYSI9P

It all came from Jack Webb. He did that with 'Dragnet' and 'Adam-12'. That guy invented reality T.V. (radio) 65+ years ago.